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de Paula Couto MC, Rothermund K, Nakamura CA, Seward N, van de Ven P, Hollingworth W, Peters TJ, Araya R, Scazufca M. 'Does it matter how old I feel?' The role of subjective age in a psychosocial intervention for improving depressive symptomatology among older adults in Brazil (PROACTIVE). Aging Ment Health 2024:1-10. [PMID: 38660984 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2024.2342959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Depression is a prevalent mental health condition that also often affects older adults. The PROACTIVE psychosocial intervention was developed to reduce depressive symptomatology among older adults within primary care settings in Brazil. An important psychological marker that affects individuals' aging experience relates to how old people feel. Known as subjective age, this marker has been shown to be a risk factor for experiencing greater depressive symptoms if individuals report feeling older than their (chronological) age. In this study, we perform secondary analyses of the PROACTIVE cluster-randomized controlled trial to examine the role of subjective age. METHOD The sample included 715 Brazilian older adults (74% female, Mage 68.6, SD = 6.9, age range: 60-94 years) randomized to intervention (n = 360, 74% female, Mage 68.4, SD = 6.6, age range: 60-89 years) or control (n = 355, 74% female, Mage 68.9, SD = 7.2, age range: 60-94 years) arms. Here our primary outcome was depressive symptoms at the 8-month follow-up assessed with the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) as a continuous variable. Our previous analyses demonstrated improved recovery from depression at follow-up in the intervention compared with the control arm. RESULTS Relevant main effects and interactions in regression models for PHQ-9 presented here found that those reporting older subjective age had worse depressive symptoms at follow-up but that they benefitted more from the intervention when initial levels of depression were high. For participants who reported younger subjective ages the intervention showed positive effects that were independent of initial levels of depression. CONCLUSION Our findings emphasize the importance of investigating possible underlying mechanisms that can help clarify the impact of mental health interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Carina A Nakamura
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nadine Seward
- Department of Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Pepijn van de Ven
- Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - William Hollingworth
- Bristol Population Health Science Institute, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Tim J Peters
- Bristol Dental School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Ricardo Araya
- Department of Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Marcia Scazufca
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Scazufca M, Nakamura CA, Seward N, Didone TVN, Moretti FA, Oliveira da Costa M, Queiroz de Souza CH, Macias de Oliveira G, Souza Dos Santos M, Pereira LA, Mendes de Sá Martins M, van de Ven P, Hollingworth W, Peters TJ, Araya R. Self-help mobile messaging intervention for depression among older adults in resource-limited settings: a randomized controlled trial. Nat Med 2024; 30:1127-1133. [PMID: 38486075 PMCID: PMC11031393 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-02864-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Scalable solutions to treat depression in older adults in low-resourced settings are urgently needed. The PRODIGITAL-D pragmatic, single-blind, two-arm, individually randomized controlled trial assessed the effectiveness of a mobile messaging psychosocial intervention in improving depressive symptomatology among older adults in socioeconomically deprived areas of Guarulhos, Brazil. Older adults (aged 60+ years) registered with 24 primary care clinics and identified with depressive symptomatology (9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scores ≥ 10) received the 6-week Viva Vida intervention based on psychoeducation and behavioral activation (n = 298) or a single message (n = 305). No health professional support was offered. The primary outcome was improvement from depressive symptomatology (PHQ-9 < 10) at 3 months. Of the 603 participants enrolled (mean age = 65.1 years; 451 (74.8%) women), 527 (87.4%) completed the follow-up assessment. In the intervention arm, 109 of 257 (42.4%) participants had an improved depressive symptomatology, compared with 87 of 270 (32.2%) participants in the control arm (adjusted odds ratio = 1.57; 95% confidence interval = 1.07-2.29; P = 0.019). No severe adverse events related to trial participation were observed. These results demonstrate the usefulness of a digital messaging psychosocial intervention in the short-term improvement from depressive symptomatology that can potentially be integrated into primary care programs for treating older adults with depression. Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials registration: ReBEC ( RBR-4c94dtn ).
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcia Scazufca
- Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Carina Akemi Nakamura
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nadine Seward
- Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Thiago Vinicius Nadaleto Didone
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Departamento de Saúde Coletiva, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
| | - Felipe Azevedo Moretti
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Neuroscience Research Group, Institute D'Or for Research and Teaching, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Oliveira da Costa
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Monica Souza Dos Santos
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luara Aragoni Pereira
- Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Pepijn van de Ven
- Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - William Hollingworth
- Health Economics Bristol, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Tim J Peters
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, and Bristol Dental School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Ricardo Araya
- Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
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Scazufca M, Seward N. Addressing the threat of loneliness and depression in older adults. Lancet Healthy Longev 2024; 5:e84-e85. [PMID: 38310897 DOI: 10.1016/s2666-7568(23)00267-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Marcia Scazufca
- LIM-23, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Nadine Seward
- Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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Elias A, Seward N, Lund C. Predictors, moderators and mediators of psychological therapies for perinatal depression in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review. Glob Ment Health (Camb) 2024; 11:e10. [PMID: 38390251 PMCID: PMC10882179 DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2024.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Psychological interventions have demonstrated effectiveness in treating perinatal depression (PND), but understanding for whom, how and under what conditions they improve symptoms in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is largely unknown. This review aims to synthesise current knowledge about predictors, moderators and mediators of psychological therapies to treat PND in LMICs. Five databases were searched for studies quantitatively examining the effects of at least one mediator, moderator or predictor of therapies for PND in LMICs. The review sampled seven publications evaluating findings from randomised trials conducted in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. The small number of included studies limited generalisability of findings. Analyses of trials with acceptable quality suggest that patient activation in Pakistan and social support in both India and Pakistan may mediate psychotherapy effectiveness, higher baseline depression severity may moderate treatment response in South Africa, and shorter depression duration at baseline may moderate intervention response in India. This review highlights current gaps in evidence quality and the need for future trials exploring PND psychotherapy effectiveness in LMICs to follow reporting guidelines to facilitate appropriate predictor, moderator and mediator analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexa Elias
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, SE5 8AF London, UK
- Centre for Global Mental Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, WC1E 7HT London, UK
- Centre for Immunobiology, The Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, E1 2AT London, UK
| | - Nadine Seward
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, SE5 8AF London, UK
- Centre for Implementation Science, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College, 16 De Crespigny Park, SE5 8AF London, UK
| | - Crick Lund
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, SE5 8AF London, UK
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, University of Cape Town, 46 Sawkins Road, Rondebosch, 7700 Cape Town, South Africa
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Karyotaki E, Miguel C, Panagiotopoulou OM, Harrer M, Seward N, Sijbrandij M, Araya R, Patel V, Cuijpers P. Digital interventions for common mental disorders in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Glob Ment Health (Camb) 2023; 10:e68. [PMID: 38024798 PMCID: PMC10643260 DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2023.50] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In low-resource settings, e-mental health may substantially increase access to evidence-based interventions for common mental disorders. We conducted a systematic literature search to identify randomised trials examining the effects of digital interventions with or without therapeutic guidance compared to control conditions in individuals with anxiety and/or depression symptoms in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods The main outcome was the reduction in symptoms at the post-test. Secondary outcomes included improvements in quality of life and longer-term effects (≥20 weeks post-randomisation). The effect size Hedges' g was calculated using the random effects model. Results A total of 21 studies (23 comparisons) with 5.296 participants were included. Digital interventions were more effective than controls in reducing symptoms of common mental disorders at the post-test (g = -0.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.26 to -0.52, p < 0.001; NNT = 2.91). These significant effects were confirmed when examining depressive (g = -0.77, 95% CI -1.11; -0.44) and anxiety symptoms separately (g = -1.02, 95% CI -1.53 to -0.52) and across all other sensitivity analyses. Digital interventions also resulted in a small but significant effect in improving quality of life (g = 0.32, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.45) at the post-test. Over the longer term, the effects were smaller but remained significant for all examined outcomes. Heterogeneity was moderate to high in all analyses. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses did not result in significant outcomes in any of the examined variables (e.g., guided vs. unguided interventions). Conclusions Digital interventions, with or without guidance, may effectively bridge the gap between treatment supply and demand in LMICs. Nevertheless, more studies are needed to draw firm conclusions regarding the magnitude of the effects of digital interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eirini Karyotaki
- Department of Clinical, Neuro-, and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Clara Miguel
- Department of Clinical, Neuro-, and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Olga M. Panagiotopoulou
- Department of Clinical, Neuro-, and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mathias Harrer
- Psychology & Digital Mental Health Care, Department of Health Sciences, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Nadine Seward
- Center for Global Mental Health and Primary Care Research, Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Marit Sijbrandij
- Department of Clinical, Neuro-, and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ricardo Araya
- Center for Global Mental Health and Primary Care Research, Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Vikram Patel
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pim Cuijpers
- Department of Clinical, Neuro-, and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Seward N, Vansteelandt S, Moreno-Agostino D, Patel V, Araya R. Understanding the effects of a complex psychological intervention on symptoms of depression in Goa, India: findings from a causal mediation analysis. Br J Psychiatry 2023; 222:67-73. [PMID: 36004665 PMCID: PMC10895505 DOI: 10.1192/bjp.2022.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding how and under what circumstances a highly effective psychological intervention, improved symptoms of depression is important to maximise its clinical effectiveness. AIMS To address this complexity, we estimate the indirect effects of potentially important mediators to improve symptoms of depression (measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)) in the Healthy Activity Program trial. METHOD Interventional in(direct) effects were used to decompose the total effect of the intervention on PHQ-9 scores into the direct and indirect effects. The following indirect effects were considered: characteristics of sessions, represented by the number of sessions and homework completed; behavioural activation, according to an adapted version of the Behavioural Activation for Depression Scale - Short Form; and extra sessions offered to participants who did not respond to the intervention. RESULTS Of the total effect of the intervention measured through the difference in PHQ-9 scores between treatment arms (mean difference: -2.1, bias-corrected 95% CI -3.2 to -1.5), 34% was mediated through improved levels of behavioural activation (mean difference: -0.7, bias-corrected 95% CI -1.2 to -0.4). There was no evidence to support the mediating role of characteristics of the sessions nor the extra sessions offered to participants who did not respond to the treatment. CONCLUSIONS Findings from our robust mediation analyses confirmed the importance of targeting behavioural activation. Contrary to published literature, our findings suggest that neither the number of sessions nor proportion of homework completed improved outcomes. Moreover, in this context, alternative treatments other than extra sessions should be considered for patients who do not respond to the intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Seward
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK; and Centre for Implementation Science, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Stijn Vansteelandt
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics, Ghent University, Belgium; and Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK
| | - Darío Moreno-Agostino
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK; and Centre for Longitudinal Studies, UCL Social Research Institute, University College London, UK
| | - Vikram Patel
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ricardo Araya
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
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Lamahewa K, Griffin S, Seward N, Temmerman M, West J, de Melo M, Raby E, Alonso A, Burnside B, Chissale F, Gheerawo R, Chepchichir EL, Mandlate F, Mahangue D, Mohiddin A, Neagu E, Salisbury TT. Protocol for intervention development to improve adolescent perinatal mental health in Kenya and Mozambique: The INSPIRE project. SSM - Mental Health 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmmh.2023.100200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2023] Open
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Moretti FA, Scazufca M, Nakamura CA, Souza CHQD, Seward N, Araya R, Moreno-Agostino D. Use of WhatsApp by older adults screened for depression in socioeconomically deprived areas of Guarulhos, São Paulo State, Brazil: challenges and possibilities for telehealth. CAD SAUDE PUBLICA 2023; 38:e00093422. [PMID: 36651419 DOI: 10.1590/0102-311xen093422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics, depressive symptomatology, mobile phone ownership, and different uses of WhatsApp among older adults enrolled in primary care clinics in Guarulhos, São Paulo State, Brazil. This is a secondary data analysis, using data collected in the screening of participants to be included in the PROACTIVE cluster randomized trial. Individuals aged ≥ 60 years, registered in primary care clinics in Guarulhos, were assessed for sociodemographic characteristics, depressive symptoms according to the PHQ-9, mobile phone ownership, and use of WhatsApp. We performed multiple logistic regression models to investigate characteristics of the potential users of digital interventions. Of 3,356 older adults screened for depression, 45.7% said they use WhatsApp to receive/send messages. In the subsample that presented depressive symptomatology (n = 1,020), 41.9% stated using WhatsApp. Younger older adults and those with better socioeconomic status used more WhatsApp and were more likely to own a mobile phone. Participants with higher levels of symptoms of depression were less likely to use WhatsApp. Gender, age, schooling level, income, and depressive symptomatology are variables associated with the possession of a cell phone and with the use of WhatsApp by the older adults of the sample. These findings can help to implement digital health programs better suited to disadvantaged populations in Brazil and other low- and middle-income countries through mental telehealth interventions using WhatsApp and mobile health services to the older people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Azevedo Moretti
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
- Instituto D'Or de Pesquisa e Ensino, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Márcia Scazufca
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
- Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
| | | | | | - Nadine Seward
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, U.K
| | - Ricardo Araya
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, U.K
| | - Darío Moreno-Agostino
- Centre for Longitudinal Studies, University College London, London, U.K
- Centre for Society and Mental Health, King's College London, London, U.K
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Seward N, Hanlon C, Abdella A, Abrahams Z, Alem A, Araya R, Bachmann M, Bekele A, Bogale B, Brima N, Chibanda D, Curran R, Davies J, Beyene A, Fairall L, Farrant L, Frissa S, Gallagher J, Gao W, Gwyther L, Harding R, Kartha MR, Leather A, Lund C, Marx M, Nkhoma K, Murdoch J, Petersen I, Petrus R, van Rensburg A, Sandall J, Sevdalis N, Sheenan A, Tadesse A, Thornicroft G, Verhey R, Willott C, Prince M. HeAlth System StrEngThening in four sub-Saharan African countries (ASSET) to achieve high-quality, evidence-informed surgical, maternal and newborn, and primary care: protocol for pre-implementation phase studies. Glob Health Action 2022; 15:1987044. [PMID: 35037844 PMCID: PMC8765245 DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2021.1987044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
To achieve universal health coverage, health system strengthening (HSS) is required to support the of delivery of high-quality care. The aim of the National Institute for Health Research Global Research Unit on HeAlth System StrEngThening in Sub-Saharan Africa (ASSET) is to address this need in a four-year programme, with three healthcare platforms involving eight work-packages. Key to effective health system strengthening (HSS) is the pre-implementation phase of research where efforts focus on applying participatory methods to embed the research programme within the existing health system. To conceptualise the approach, we provide an overview of the key methods applied across work-package to address this important phase of research conducted between 2017 and 2021.Work-packages are being undertaken in publicly funded health systems in rural and urban areas in Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Stakeholders including patients and their caregivers, community representatives, clinicians, managers, administrators, and policymakers are the main research participants.In each work-package, initial activities engage stakeholders and build relationships to ensure co-production and ownership of HSSIs. A mixed-methods approach is then applied to understand and address determinants of high-quality care delivery. Methods such as situation analysis, cross-sectional surveys, interviews and focus group discussions are adopted to each work-package aim and context. At the end of the pre-implementation phase, findings are disseminated using focus group discussions and participatory Theory of Change workshops where stakeholders from each work package use findings to select HSSIs and develop a programme theory.ASSET places a strong emphasis of the pre-implementation phase in order to provide an in-depth and systematic diagnosis of the existing heath system functioning, needs for strengthening and stakeholder engagement. This common approach will inform the design and evaluation of the HSSIs to increase effectiveness across work packages and contexts, to better understand what works, for whom, and how.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Seward
- Centre for Implementation Science, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Charlotte Hanlon
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
- Department of Psychiatry, WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health Research and Capacity-, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Ahmed Abdella
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Zulfa Abrahams
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Atalay Alem
- Department of Psychiatry, WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health Research and Capacity-, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Ricardo Araya
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Max Bachmann
- Department of Population Health and Primary Care, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Alemayehu Bekele
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Birke Bogale
- Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, Centre for Host Microbiome Interactions, King’s College London, London, UK
- Department of Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Nataliya Brima
- King’s Centre for Global Health and Health Partnerships, School of Population Health and Environmental Sciences, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Dixon Chibanda
- University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Psychology Department, School of Applied Human Science College of Humanities, University of KwaZulu Natal, London, UK
| | - Robyn Curran
- Knowledge Translation Unit, University of Cape Town Lung Institute and Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Justine Davies
- Centre for Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Centre for Global Surgery, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Andualem Beyene
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Lara Fairall
- Knowledge Translation Unit, University of Cape Town Lung Institute and Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- King’s Global Health Institute, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Lindsay Farrant
- Division of Family Medicine, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Souci Frissa
- King’s Global Health Institute, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Jennifer Gallagher
- Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, Centre for Host Microbiome Interactions, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Wei Gao
- Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing Midwifery and Palliative Care, Cicely Saunders Institute, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Liz Gwyther
- Division of Family Medicine, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Richard Harding
- Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing Midwifery and Palliative Care, Cicely Saunders Institute, King’s College London, London, UK
| | | | - Andrew Leather
- King’s Centre for Global Health and Health Partnerships, School of Population Health and Environmental Sciences, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Crick Lund
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Maggie Marx
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Kennedy Nkhoma
- Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing Midwifery and Palliative Care, Cicely Saunders Institute, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Jamie Murdoch
- Department of Population Health Science, Kings College London, London, UK
| | - Inge Petersen
- Centre for Rural Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Berea, Durban, South Africa
| | - Ruwayda Petrus
- Psychology Department, School of Applied Human Science College of Humanities, University of KwaZulu Natal, Berea, Durban, South Africa
| | - André van Rensburg
- Centre for Rural Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Berea, Durban, South Africa
| | - Jane Sandall
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, School of Life Course Science, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Nick Sevdalis
- Centre for Implementation Science, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Andrew Sheenan
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, School of Life Course Science, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Amezene Tadesse
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Graham Thornicroft
- Centre for Implementation Science, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | | | - Chris Willott
- King’s Centre for Global Health and Health Partnerships, School of Population Health and Environmental Sciences, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Martin Prince
- King’s Global Health Institute, King’s College London, London, UK
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10
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Scazufca M, Nakamura CA, Seward N, Moreno-Agostino D, van de Ven P, Hollingworth W, Peters TJ, Araya R. A task-shared, collaborative care psychosocial intervention for improving depressive symptomatology among older adults in a socioeconomically deprived area of Brazil (PROACTIVE): a pragmatic, two-arm, parallel-group, cluster-randomised controlled trial. Lancet Healthy Longev 2022; 3:e690-e702. [PMID: 36202129 PMCID: PMC9529612 DOI: 10.1016/s2666-7568(22)00194-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is an urgent need to reduce the burden of depression among older adults in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a task-shared, collaborative care psychosocial intervention for improving recovery from depression in older adults in Brazil. METHODS PROACTIVE was a pragmatic, two-arm, parallel-group, cluster-randomised controlled trial conducted in Guarulhos, Brazil. Primary care clinics (clusters) were stratified by educational level and randomly allocated (1:1) to either enhanced usual care alone (control group) or to enhanced usual care plus the psychosocial intervention (intervention group), which involved a 17-week psychosocial programme based on psychoeducation and behavioural activation approaches. Individuals approached for the initial screening assessment were selected randomly from a list of individuals provided by the Health Secretariat of Guarulhos. Face-to-face baseline assessments were conducted among adults aged 60 years or older registered with one of the primary care clinics and identified with clinically significant depressive symptomatology (9-item Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9] score ≥10). Community health workers delivered the programme through home sessions, supported by a dedicated tablet application. Masking of clinic staff and community health workers who delivered the intervention was not feasible; however, research assistants conducting recruitment and follow-up assessments were masked to trial allocation. The primary outcome was recovery from depression (PHQ-9 score <10) at 8-month follow-up. All primary analyses were performed by intention to treat with imputed data. Adaptations to the protocol were made due to the COVID-19 pandemic; recruitment and intervention home sessions were stopped, and follow-up assessments were conducted by telephone. This trial is registered with the ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN57805470. FINDINGS We identified 24 primary care clinics in Guarulhos that were willing to participate, of which 20 were randomly allocated to either the control group (ten [50%] clusters) or to the intervention group (ten [50%] clusters). The four remaining eligible clusters were kept as reserves. Between May 23, 2019, and Feb 21, 2020, 8146 individuals were assessed for eligibility, of whom 715 (8·8%) participants were recruited: 355 (49·7%) in the control group and 360 (50·3%) in the intervention group. 284 (80·0%) participants in the control group and 253 (70·3%) in the intervention group completed follow-up at 8 months. At 8-month follow-up, 158 (62·5%) participants in the intervention group showed recovery from depression (PHQ-9 score <10) compared with 125 (44·0%) in the control group (adjusted odds ratio 2·16 [95% CI 1·47-3·18]; p<0·0001). These findings were maintained in the complete case analysis. No adverse events related to the intervention were observed. INTERPRETATION Although the COVID-19 pandemic altered delivery of the intervention, the low-intensity psychosocial intervention delivered mainly by non-mental health professionals was highly efficacious in improving recovery from depression in older adults in Brazil. Our results support a low-resource intervention that could be useful to reduce the treatment gap for depression among older people in other LMICs. FUNDING São Paulo Research Foundation and Joint Global Health Trials (UK Department for International Development, Medical Research Council, and the Wellcome Trust).
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcia Scazufca
- Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carina A Nakamura
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nadine Seward
- Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Darío Moreno-Agostino
- Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health, King's College London, London, UK; Centre for Longitudinal Studies, Social Research Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Pepijn van de Ven
- Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - William Hollingworth
- Health Economics Bristol, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Tim J Peters
- Bristol Dental School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Ricardo Araya
- Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
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11
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Nakamura CA, Scazufca M, Moretti FA, Didone TVN, de Sá Martins MM, Pereira LA, de Souza CHQ, de Oliveira GM, da Costa MO, Machado M, da Silva Bitencourt E, Dos Santos MS, Murdoch J, van de Ven P, Seward N, Hollingworth W, Peters TJ, Araya R. Digital psychosocial intervention for depression among older adults in socioeconomically deprived areas in Brazil (PRODIGITAL-D): protocol for an individually randomised controlled trial. Trials 2022; 23:761. [PMID: 36071463 PMCID: PMC9449935 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-022-06623-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depression in older adults is a challenge for health systems in most low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Digital strategies for the management of this condition have been emerging worldwide, but the effectiveness of most of them is still unclear, especially among older adults. Thus, we aim to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a digital psychosocial intervention to treat depression among older adults living in socioeconomically deprived areas in Guarulhos, Brazil. METHODS We will conduct a two-arm individually randomised controlled trial with 1:1 allocation ratio. Five hundred older adults aged 60 years or over with depressive symptomatology (9-item Patient Health Questionnaire score, PHQ-9 ≥ 10) and registered with one of the primary care clinics will be recruited to participate in this study. A 6-week digital psychosocial programme, named Viva Vida, will be delivered via WhatsApp to participants allocated to the intervention arm. The Viva Vida will send psychoeducational and behavioural activation audio and visual messages 4 days a week for 6 weeks. The control arm will only receive a single message with general information about depression. The primary outcome will be the proportion of depression recovery (PHQ-9 < 10) assessed at 3 months. The cost-effectiveness of the intervention will be assessed at 5 months. A detailed process evaluation will be used to explore context and important implementation outcomes. DISCUSSION This programme was based on the PROACTIVE intervention and designed to be delivered without face-to-face contact. If effective, it could be a simple treatment option, appropriate not only when social distancing is required, but it could also be included as a regular public health programme to initiate depression treatment, particularly in LMICs where resources allocated to mental health are scarce. TRIAL REGISTRATION Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos (ReBEC), RBR-4c94dtn. Registered on 22 October 2021 (submitted on 03 August 2021).
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina Akemi Nakamura
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcia Scazufca
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Felipe Azevedo Moretti
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Luara Aragoni Pereira
- Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Marcelo Oliveira da Costa
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Monica Souza Dos Santos
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jamie Murdoch
- Department of Population Health Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Pepijn van de Ven
- Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Nadine Seward
- Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - William Hollingworth
- Health Economics Bristol, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Tim J Peters
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, and Bristol Dental School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Ricardo Araya
- Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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12
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Abrahams Z, Jacobs Y, Mohlamonyane M, Boisits S, Schneider M, Honikman S, Seward N, Lund C. Implementation outcomes of a health systems strengthening intervention for perinatal women with common mental disorders and experiences of domestic violence in South Africa: Pilot feasibility and acceptability study. BMC Health Serv Res 2022; 22:641. [PMID: 35562791 PMCID: PMC9099309 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-022-08050-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND South Africa has a high burden of perinatal common mental disorders (CMD), such as depression and anxiety, as well as high levels of poverty, food insecurity and domestic violence, which increases the risk of CMD. Yet public healthcare does not include routine detection and treatment for these disorders. This pilot study aims to evaluate the implementation outcomes of a health systems strengthening (HSS) intervention for improving the quality of care of perinatal women with CMD and experiences of domestic violence, attending public healthcare facilities in Cape Town. METHODS Three antenatal care facilities were purposively selected for delivery of a HSS programme consisting of four components: (1) health promotion and awareness raising talks delivered by lay healthcare workers; (2) detection of CMD and domestic violence by nurses as part of routine care; (3) referral of women with CMD and domestic violence; and (4) delivery of structured counselling by lay healthcare workers in patients' homes. Participants included healthcare workers tasked with delivery of the HSS components, and perinatal women attending the healthcare facilities for routine antenatal care. This mixed methods study used qualitative interviews with healthcare workers and pregnant women, a patient survey, observation of health promotion and awareness raising talks, and a review of several documents, to evaluate the acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility, adoption, fidelity of delivery, and fidelity of receipt of the HSS components. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the qualitative interviews, while the quantitative findings for adoption and fidelity of receipt were reported using numbers and proportions. RESULTS Healthcare workers found the delivery and content of the HSS components to be both acceptable and appropriate, while the feasibility, adoption and fidelity of delivery was poor. We demonstrated that the health promotion and awareness raising component improved women's attitudes towards seeking help for mental health conditions. The detection, referral and treatment components were found to improve fidelity of receipt, evidenced by an increase in the proportion of women undergoing routine detection and referral, and decreased feelings of distress in women who received counselling. However, using a task-sharing approach did not prove to be feasible, as adding additional responsibilities to already overburdened healthcare workers roles resulted in poor fidelity of delivery and adoption of all the HSS components. CONCLUSIONS The acceptability, appropriateness and fidelity of receipt of the HSS programme components, and poor feasibility, fidelity of delivery and adoption suggest the need to appoint dedicated, lay healthcare workers to deliver key programme components, at healthcare facilities, on the same day.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zulfa Abrahams
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Building B, 46 Sawkins Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa.
| | - Yuche Jacobs
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Building B, 46 Sawkins Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa.,Alcohol, tobacco and other drug research unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Mbali Mohlamonyane
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Building B, 46 Sawkins Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa
| | - Sonet Boisits
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Building B, 46 Sawkins Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa
| | - Marguerite Schneider
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Building B, 46 Sawkins Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa
| | - Simone Honikman
- Perinatal Mental Health Project, Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Nadine Seward
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,Centre for Implementation Science, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College, London, London, UK
| | - Crick Lund
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Building B, 46 Sawkins Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa.,Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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13
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Abrahams Z, Schneider M, Honikman S, Olckers P, Boisits S, Seward N, Lund C. Health systems strengthening interventions for perinatal common mental disorders and experiences of domestic violence in Cape Town, South Africa: protocol for a pilot implementation study. Pilot Feasibility Stud 2022; 8:100. [PMID: 35526062 PMCID: PMC9077881 DOI: 10.1186/s40814-022-01053-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the perinatal period, common mental disorders (CMDs) such as depression and anxiety are highly prevalent, especially in low-resource settings, and are associated with domestic violence, poverty, and food insecurity. Perinatal CMDs have been associated with several adverse maternal and child outcomes. While the Department of Health in South Africa provides healthcare workers with the tools to detect psychological distress and experiences of domestic violence, few healthcare workers routinely screen pregnant women at clinic visits, citing discomfort with mental health issues and the lack of standardised referral pathways as the key barriers. The aim of this study is to select and evaluate a set of health systems strengthening (HSS) interventions aimed at improving the care and outcomes for perinatal women with CMDs and experiences of domestic violence, attending public healthcare facilities in Cape Town. METHODS This study consists of a pre-implementation, development, and implementation phase. Contextual barriers identified during the pre-implementation phase included poor patient knowledge and health-seeking behaviour, high levels of stigma, and poor detection, referral, and treatment rates. Implementation science determinant frameworks were applied to findings from the pre-implementation phase to identify determinants and gaps in delivering high-quality evidence-informed care. A participatory Theory of Change workshop was used to design a HSS programme, consisting of awareness raising, detection, referral, and treatment. HSS interventions selected to support the delivery of the HSS programme includes training, health promotion, change to the healthcare environment, task-sharing, audit and feedback, and performance monitoring. The implementation phase will be used to assess several implementation and clinical outcomes associated with the delivery of the HSS programme, which will be piloted at three healthcare facilities. Qualitative and quantitative methods will be used to evaluate the implementation and clinical outcomes. DISCUSSION This pilot implementation study will inform us about a range of implementation and clinical outcome measures that are relevant for assessing HSS interventions for perinatal women with depression, anxiety, or experiences of domestic violence in low-resource settings. Lessons learnt from the pilot study will be incorporated into the design of a cluster randomised control trial for which further funding will be sought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zulfa Abrahams
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Building B, 46 Sawkins Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa.
| | - Marguerite Schneider
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Building B, 46 Sawkins Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa
| | - Simone Honikman
- Perinatal Mental Health Project, Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Patti Olckers
- Metro Health Services, Klipfontein/Mitchells Plain Sub Structure, Western Cape Department of Health, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Sonet Boisits
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Building B, 46 Sawkins Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa
| | - Nadine Seward
- Centre for Implementation Science, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Crick Lund
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Building B, 46 Sawkins Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's Global Health Institute, King's College London, London, UK
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14
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Seward N, Hanlon C, Hinrichs-Kraples S, Lund C, Murdoch J, Taylor Salisbury T, Verhey R, Shidhaye R, Thornicroft G, Araya R, Sevdalis N. A guide to systems-level, participatory, theory-informed implementation research in global health. BMJ Glob Health 2021; 6:e005365. [PMID: 34969685 PMCID: PMC8718460 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-005365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Implementation research is a multidisciplinary field that addresses the complex phenomenon of how context influences our ability to deliver evidence-informed healthcare. There is increasing realisation of the importance of applying robust implementation research to scale-up life-saving interventions that meet health-related sustainable development goals. However, the lack of high-quality implementation research is impeding our ability to meet these targets, globally. Within implementation research, theory refers to the proposed hypothesis and/or explanation of how an intervention is expected to interact with the local context and actors to bring about change. Although there is increasing interest in applying theory to understand how and why implementation programmes work in real-world settings, global health actors still tend to favour impact evaluations conducted in controlled environments. This may, in part, be due to the relative novelty as well as methodological complexity of implementation research and the need to draw on divergent disciplines, including epidemiology, implementation science and social sciences. Because of this, implementation research is faced with a particular set of challenges about how to reconcile different ways of thinking and constructing knowledge about healthcare interventions. To help translate some of the ambiguity surrounding how divergent theoretical approaches and methods contribute to implementation research, we draw on our multidisciplinary expertise in the field, particularly in global health. We offer an overview of the different theoretical approaches and describe how they are applied to continuously select, monitor and evaluate implementation strategies throughout the different phases of implementation research. In doing so, we offer a relatively brief, user-focused guide to help global health actors implement and report on evaluation of evidence-based and scalable interventions, programmes and practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Seward
- Centre for Implementation Science, Department of Health Service and Population Research, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Charlotte Hanlon
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Health Service and Population Research Department, Centre for Global Mental Health, King's College London, London, UK
- Centre for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa), College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Crick Lund
- King's College London, London, UK
- University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Jamie Murdoch
- University of East Anglia Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwich, UK
| | | | - Ruth Verhey
- Research Support Centre, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Rahul Shidhaye
- Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences, Loni, Maharashtra, India
| | | | | | - Nick Sevdalis
- Health Service & Population Research Department, King's College London, London, UK
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15
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Seward N, Murdoch J, Hanlon C, Araya R, Gao W, Harding R, Lund C, Hinrichs-Krapels S, Mayston R, Kartha M, Prince M, Sandall J, Thornicroft G, Verhey R, Sevdalis N. Implementation science protocol for a participatory, theory-informed implementation research programme in the context of health system strengthening in sub-Saharan Africa (ASSET-ImplementER). BMJ Open 2021; 11:e048742. [PMID: 34244274 PMCID: PMC8268893 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-048742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES ASSET (Health System Strengthening in sub-Saharan Africa) is a health system strengthening (HSS) programme involving eight work-packages (ie, a research study that addresses a specific need for HSS) that aims to develop solutions that support high-quality care. Here we present the protocol for the implementation science (IS) theme within ASSET (ASSET-ImplmentER) that aims to understand what HSS interventions work, for whom and how, and how IS methodologies can be adapted to improve the HSS interventions within resource-poor contexts. SETTINGS Publicly funded health facilities in rural and urban areas in in Ethiopia, South Africa, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe. PARTICIPANTS Research staff including principal investigators, coinvestigators, field staff, PhD students, and research assistants. INTERVENTIONS Work-packages use a mixed-methods effectiveness-effectiveness hybrid designs. At the end of the pre-implementation phase, a workshop is held whereby the IS theme, jointly with ASSET work-packages apply IS determinant frameworks to research findings to identify factors that influence the effectiveness of delivering evidence-informed care. Determinants are used to select a set of HSS interventions for further evaluation, where work-packages also theorise selective mechanisms.In the piloting and rolling implementation phase, work-packages pilot the HSS interventions. An iterative process then begins involving evaluation, reflection and adaptation. Throughout this phase, IS determinant frameworks are applied to monitor and identify barriers/enablers to implementation. Selective mechanisms of action are also investigated. Implementation outcomes are evaluated using qualitative and quantitative methods. The psychometric properties of outcome measures including acceptability, appropriateness and feasibility are also evaluated. In a final workshop, work-packages come together, to reflect and explore the utility of the selected IS methods and provide suggestions for future use.Structured templates are used to organise and analyse common and heterogeneous patterns across work-packages. Qualitative data are analysed using thematic analysis and quantitative data are analysed using means and proportions. CONCLUSIONS We use a novel combination of IS methods at a programmatic level to facilitate comparisons of determinants and mechanisms that influence the effectiveness of HSS interventions in achieving implementation outcomes across different contexts. The study also contributes conceptual development and clarification at the underdeveloped interface of IS, HSS and global health.The ASSET-ImplementER theme is considered minimal risk as we only interview researchers involved in the different work-packages. To this effect we have received approval from King's College London Ethics Committee for research that is considered minimal risk (Reference number: MRA-20/21-21772).
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Seward
- Centre for Implementation Science, Department of Health Services and Population Research, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Jamie Murdoch
- School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Charlotte Hanlon
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Health Service and Population Research Department, Centre for Global Mental Health, King's College London, London, UK
- School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health Research and Capacity-Building, Addis Ababa University College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Ricardo Araya
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Health Service and Population Research Department, Centre for Global Mental Health, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Wei Gao
- Department of Palliative Care and Policy, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Richard Harding
- Department of Palliative Care and Policy, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Crick Lund
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Health Service and Population Research Department, Centre for Global Mental Health, King's College London, London, UK
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Saba Hinrichs-Krapels
- The Policy Institute, King's College London, London, UK
- King's Global Health Institute, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Rosie Mayston
- King's Global Health Institute, King's College London, London, UK
- Global Health and Social Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Martin Prince
- King's Global Health Institute, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Jane Sandall
- Dept of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course Sciences, FoLSM, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Graham Thornicroft
- Centre for Implementation Science, Department of Health Services and Population Research, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Ruth Verhey
- Research Support Centre, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Nick Sevdalis
- Centre for Implementation Science, Department of Health Services and Population Research, King's College London, London, UK
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16
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Seward N, Hanlon C, Murdoch J, Colbourn T, Prince MJ, Venkatapuram S, Sevdalis N. Contextual equipoise: a novel concept to inform ethical implications for implementation research in low-income and middle-income countries. BMJ Glob Health 2021; 5:bmjgh-2020-003456. [PMID: 33355266 PMCID: PMC7757476 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2020-003456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The call for universal health coverage requires the urgent implementation and scale-up of interventions that are known to be effective, in resource-poor settings. Achieving this objective requires high-quality implementation research (IR) that evaluates the complex phenomenon of the influence of context on the ability to effectively deliver evidence-based practice. Nevertheless, IR for global health is failing to apply a robust, theoretically driven approach, leading to ethical concerns associated with research that is not methodologically sound. Inappropriate methods are often used in IR to address and report on context. This may result in a lack in understanding of how to effectively adapt the intervention to the new setting and a lack of clarity in conceptualising whether there is sufficient evidence to generalise findings from previous IR to a new setting, or if a randomised controlled trial (RCT) is needed. Some of the ethical issues arising from this shortcoming include poor-quality research that may needlessly expose vulnerable participants to research that has not been adapted to suit local needs and priorities, and the inappropriate use of RCTs that denies participants in the control arm access to treatment that is effective within the local context. To address these concerns, we propose a complementary approach to clinical equipoise for IR, known as contextual equipoise. We discuss challenges in the evaluation of context and also with assessing the certainty of evidence to justify an RCT. Finally, we describe methods that can be applied to improve the evaluation and reporting of context and to help understand if contextual equipoise can be justified or if significant adaptations are required. We hope our analysis offers helpful insight to better understand and ensure that the ethical principle of beneficence is upheld in the real-world contexts of IR in low-resource settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Seward
- Centre for Implementation Science, Department of Health Service and Population Research, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Charlotte Hanlon
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Centre for Global Mental Health, King's College London, London, UK.,Centre for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa), College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.,Health Service and Population Research Department, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Jamie Murdoch
- Norwich Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of East Anglia Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwich, UK
| | - Tim Colbourn
- Institute of Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Martin James Prince
- Health Service and Population Research Department, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Nick Sevdalis
- Health Service and Population Research Department, King's College London, London, UK
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Colbourn T, Prost A, Seward N. Making the world a simpler place: the modeller's temptation to seek alternative trial results. BMJ Glob Health 2018; 3:e001194. [PMID: 30397517 PMCID: PMC6203035 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2018-001194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Audrey Prost
- Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Nadine Seward
- Centre for Implementation Science, Department of Health Service and Population Research, King's College London, London, UK
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Seward N, Neuman M, Colbourn T, Osrin D, Lewycka S, Azad K, Costello A, Das S, Fottrell E, Kuddus A, Manandhar D, Nair N, Nambiar B, Shah More N, Phiri T, Tripathy P, Prost A. Effects of women's groups practising participatory learning and action on preventive and care-seeking behaviours to reduce neonatal mortality: A meta-analysis of cluster-randomised trials. PLoS Med 2017; 14:e1002467. [PMID: 29206833 PMCID: PMC5716527 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Accepted: 11/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The World Health Organization recommends participatory learning and action (PLA) in women's groups to improve maternal and newborn health, particularly in rural settings with low access to health services. There have been calls to understand the pathways through which this community intervention may affect neonatal mortality. We examined the effect of women's groups on key antenatal, delivery, and postnatal behaviours in order to understand pathways to mortality reduction. METHODS AND FINDINGS We conducted a meta-analysis using data from 7 cluster-randomised controlled trials that took place between 2001 and 2012 in rural India (2 trials), urban India (1 trial), rural Bangladesh (2 trials), rural Nepal (1 trial), and rural Malawi (1 trial), with the number of participants ranging between 6,125 and 29,901 live births. Behavioural outcomes included appropriate antenatal care, facility delivery, use of a safe delivery kit, hand washing by the birth attendant prior to delivery, use of a sterilised instrument to cut the umbilical cord, immediate wrapping of the newborn after delivery, delayed bathing of the newborn, early initiation of breastfeeding, and exclusive breastfeeding. We used 2-stage meta-analysis techniques to estimate the effect of the women's group intervention on behavioural outcomes. In the first stage, we used random effects models with individual patient data to assess the effect of groups on outcomes separately for the different trials. In the second stage of the meta-analysis, random effects models were applied using summary-level estimates calculated in the first stage of the analysis. To determine whether behaviour change was related to group attendance, we used random effects models to assess associations between outcomes and the following categories of group attendance and allocation: women attending a group and allocated to the intervention arm; women not attending a group but allocated to the intervention arm; and women allocated to the control arm. Overall, women's groups practising PLA improved behaviours during and after home deliveries, including the use of safe delivery kits (odds ratio [OR] 2.92, 95% CI 2.02-4.22; I2 = 63.7%, 95% CI 4.4%-86.2%), use of a sterile blade to cut the umbilical cord (1.88, 1.25-2.82; 67.6%, 16.1%-87.5%), birth attendant washing hands prior to delivery (1.87, 1.19-2.95; 79%, 53.8%-90.4%), delayed bathing of the newborn for at least 24 hours (1.47, 1.09-1.99; 68.0%, 29.2%-85.6%), and wrapping the newborn within 10 minutes of delivery (1.27, 1.02-1.60; 0.0%, 0%-79.2%). Effects were partly dependent on the proportion of pregnant women attending groups. We did not find evidence of effects on uptake of antenatal care (OR 1.03, 95% CI 0.77-1.38; I2 = 86.3%, 95% CI 73.8%-92.8%), facility delivery (1.02, 0.93-1.12; 21.4%, 0%-65.8%), initiating breastfeeding within 1 hour (1.08, 0.85-1.39; 76.6%, 50.9%-88.8%), or exclusive breastfeeding for 6 weeks after delivery (1.18, 0.93-1.48; 72.9%, 37.8%-88.2%). The main limitation of our analysis is the high degree of heterogeneity for effects on most behaviours, possibly due to the limited number of trials involving women's groups and context-specific effects. CONCLUSIONS This meta-analysis suggests that women's groups practising PLA improve key behaviours on the pathway to neonatal mortality, with the strongest evidence for home care behaviours and practices during home deliveries. A lack of consistency in improved behaviours across all trials may reflect differences in local priorities, capabilities, and the responsiveness of health services. Future research could address the mechanisms behind how PLA improves survival, in order to adapt this method to improve maternal and newborn health in different contexts, as well as improve other outcomes across the continuum of care for women, children, and adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Seward
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Melissa Neuman
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tim Colbourn
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - David Osrin
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sonia Lewycka
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Centre for Tropical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Kishwar Azad
- Perinatal Care Project, Diabetic Association of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Anthony Costello
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sushmita Das
- Society for Nutrition, Education & Health Action, Mumbai, India
| | - Edward Fottrell
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Abdul Kuddus
- Perinatal Care Project, Diabetic Association of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | | | - Bejoy Nambiar
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Neena Shah More
- Society for Nutrition, Education & Health Action, Mumbai, India
| | - Tambosi Phiri
- Parent and Child Health Initiative Trust, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | | | - Audrey Prost
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Fottrell E, Osrin D, Alcock G, Azad K, Bapat U, Beard J, Bondo A, Colbourn T, Das S, King C, Manandhar D, Manandhar S, Morrison J, Mwansambo C, Nair N, Nambiar B, Neuman M, Phiri T, Saville N, Sen A, Seward N, Shah Moore N, Shrestha BP, Singini B, Tumbahangphe KM, Costello A, Prost A. Cause-specific neonatal mortality: analysis of 3772 neonatal deaths in Nepal, Bangladesh, Malawi and India. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2015; 100:F439-47. [PMID: 25972443 PMCID: PMC4552925 DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2014-307636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2014] [Accepted: 04/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Understanding the causes of death is key to tackling the burden of three million annual neonatal deaths. Resource-poor settings lack effective vital registration systems for births, deaths and causes of death. We set out to describe cause-specific neonatal mortality in rural areas of Malawi, Bangladesh, Nepal and rural and urban India using verbal autopsy (VA) data. DESIGN We prospectively recorded births, neonatal deaths and stillbirths in seven population surveillance sites. VAs were carried out to ascertain cause of death. We applied descriptive epidemiological techniques and the InterVA method to characterise the burden, timing and causes of neonatal mortality at each site. RESULTS Analysis included 3772 neonatal deaths and 3256 stillbirths. Between 63% and 82% of neonatal deaths occurred in the first week of life, and males were more likely to die than females. Prematurity, birth asphyxia and infections accounted for most neonatal deaths, but important subnational and regional differences were observed. More than one-third of deaths in urban India were attributed to asphyxia, making it the leading cause of death in this setting. CONCLUSIONS Population-based VA methods can fill information gaps on the burden and causes of neonatal mortality in resource-poor and data-poor settings. Local data should be used to inform and monitor the implementation of interventions to improve newborn health. High rates of home births demand a particular focus on community interventions to improve hygienic delivery and essential newborn care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Fottrell
- University College London, Institute for Global Health, London, UK
| | - David Osrin
- University College London, Institute for Global Health, London, UK
| | - Glyn Alcock
- University College London, Institute for Global Health, London, UK
| | - Kishwar Azad
- Diabetic Association of Bangladesh, Perinatal Care Project, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Ujwala Bapat
- Society for Nutrition, Education and Health Action, Mumbai, India
| | - James Beard
- University College London, Institute for Global Health, London, UK
| | - Austin Bondo
- Parent and Child Health Initiative, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Tim Colbourn
- University College London, Institute for Global Health, London, UK
| | - Sushmita Das
- Society for Nutrition, Education and Health Action, Mumbai, India
| | - Carina King
- University College London, Institute for Global Health, London, UK
| | | | | | - Joanna Morrison
- University College London, Institute for Global Health, London, UK
| | | | | | - Bejoy Nambiar
- University College London, Institute for Global Health, London, UK
| | - Melissa Neuman
- University College London, Institute for Global Health, London, UK
| | | | - Naomi Saville
- University College London, Institute for Global Health, London, UK
| | - Aman Sen
- Mother and Infant Research Activities, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Nadine Seward
- University College London, Institute for Global Health, London, UK
| | - Neena Shah Moore
- Society for Nutrition, Education and Health Action, Mumbai, India
| | | | | | | | - Anthony Costello
- University College London, Institute for Global Health, London, UK
| | - Audrey Prost
- University College London, Institute for Global Health, London, UK
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20
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Neuman M, Alcock G, Azad K, Kuddus A, Osrin D, More NS, Nair N, Tripathy P, Sikorski C, Saville N, Sen A, Colbourn T, Houweling TAJ, Seward N, Manandhar DS, Shrestha BP, Costello A, Prost A. Prevalence and determinants of caesarean section in private and public health facilities in underserved South Asian communities: cross-sectional analysis of data from Bangladesh, India and Nepal. BMJ Open 2014; 4:e005982. [PMID: 25550293 PMCID: PMC4283435 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To describe the prevalence and determinants of births by caesarean section in private and public health facilities in underserved communities in South Asia. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING 81 community-based geographical clusters in four locations in Bangladesh, India and Nepal (three rural, one urban). PARTICIPANTS 45,327 births occurring in the study areas between 2005 and 2012. OUTCOME MEASURES Proportion of caesarean section deliveries by location and type of facility; determinants of caesarean section delivery by location. RESULTS Institutional delivery rates varied widely between settings, from 21% in rural India to 90% in urban India. The proportion of private and charitable facility births delivered by caesarean section was 73% in Bangladesh, 30% in rural Nepal, 18% in urban India and 5% in rural India. The odds of caesarean section were greater in private and charitable health facilities than in public facilities in three of four study locations, even when adjusted for pregnancy and delivery characteristics, maternal characteristics and year of delivery (Bangladesh: adjusted OR (AOR) 5.91, 95% CI 5.15 to 6.78; Nepal: AOR 2.37, 95% CI 1.62 to 3.44; urban India: AOR 1.22, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.38). We found that highly educated women were particularly likely to deliver by caesarean in private facilities in urban India (AOR 2.10; 95% CI 1.61 to 2.75) and also in rural Bangladesh (AOR 11.09, 95% CI 6.28 to 19.57). CONCLUSIONS Our results lend support to the hypothesis that increased caesarean section rates in these South Asian countries may be driven in part by the private sector. They also suggest that preferences for caesarean delivery may be higher among highly educated women, and that individual-level and provider-level factors interact in driving caesarean rates higher. Rates of caesarean section in the private sector, and their maternal and neonatal health outcomes, require close monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Neuman
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Glyn Alcock
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Kishwar Azad
- Perinatal Care Project, Diabetic Association of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Abdul Kuddus
- Perinatal Care Project, Diabetic Association of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - David Osrin
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Neena Shah More
- Society for Nutrition, Education and Health Action (SNEHA), Urban Health Centre, Maharashtra, India
| | | | | | | | - Naomi Saville
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Aman Sen
- Mother and Infant Research Activities (MIRA), Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Tim Colbourn
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Tanja A J Houweling
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nadine Seward
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Bhim P Shrestha
- Mother and Infant Research Activities (MIRA), Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Anthony Costello
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Audrey Prost
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
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21
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Iwamoto A, Seward N, Prost A, Ellis M, Copas A, Fottrell E, Azad K, Tripathy P, Costello A. Maternal infection and risk of intrapartum death: a population based observational study in South Asia. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2013; 13:245. [PMID: 24373126 PMCID: PMC3897987 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2393-13-245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2013] [Accepted: 12/17/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Approximately 1.2 million stillbirths occur in the intrapartum period, and a further 717,000 annual neonatal deaths are caused by intrapartum events, most of which occur in resource poor settings. We aim to test the 'double-hit' hypothesis that maternal infection in the perinatal period predisposes to neurodevelopmental sequelae from an intrapartum asphyxia insult, increasing the likelihood of an early neonatal death compared with asphyxia alone. This is an observational study of singleton newborn infants with signs of intrapartum asphyxia that uses data from three previously conducted cluster randomized controlled trials taking place in rural Bangladesh and India. METHODS From a population of 81,778 births in 54 community clusters in rural Bangladesh and India, we applied mixed effects logistic regression to data on 3890 singleton infants who had signs of intrapartum asphyxia, of whom 769 (20%) died in the early neonatal period. Poor infant condition at five minutes post-delivery was our proxy measure of intrapartum asphyxia. We had data for two markers of maternal infection: fever up to three days prior to labour, and prolonged rupture of membranes (PROM). Cause-specific verbal autopsy data were used to validate our findings using previously mentioned mixed effect logistic regression methods and the outcome of a neonatal death due to intrapartum asphyxia. RESULTS Signs of maternal infection as indicated by PROM, combined with intrapartum asphyxia, increased the risk of an early neonatal death relative to intrapartum asphyxia alone (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.28, 95% CI 1.03 - 1.59). Results from cause-specific verbal autopsy data verified our findings where there was a significantly increased odds of a early neonatal death due to intrapartum asphyxia in newborns exposed to both PROM and intrapartum asphyxia (AOR: 1.52, 95% CI 1.15 - 2.02). CONCLUSIONS Our data support the double-hit hypothesis for signs of maternal infection as indicated by PROM. Interventions for pregnant women with signs of infection, to prevent early neonatal deaths and disability due to asphyxia, should be investigated further in resource-poor populations where the chances of maternal infection are high.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nadine Seward
- UCL Institute for Global Health, University College London, 30 Guilford St, London WC1N 1EH, UK.
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Prost A, Colbourn T, Seward N, Azad K, Coomarasamy A, Copas A, Houweling TAJ, Fottrell E, Kuddus A, Lewycka S, MacArthur C, Manandhar D, Morrison J, Mwansambo C, Nair N, Nambiar B, Osrin D, Pagel C, Phiri T, Pulkki-Brännström AM, Rosato M, Skordis-Worrall J, Saville N, More NS, Shrestha B, Tripathy P, Wilson A, Costello A. Women's groups practising participatory learning and action to improve maternal and newborn health in low-resource settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet 2013; 381:1736-46. [PMID: 23683640 PMCID: PMC3797417 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(13)60685-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 408] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal and neonatal mortality rates remain high in many low-income and middle-income countries. Different approaches for the improvement of birth outcomes have been used in community-based interventions, with heterogeneous effects on survival. We assessed the effects of women's groups practising participatory learning and action, compared with usual care, on birth outcomes in low-resource settings. METHODS We did a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials undertaken in Bangladesh, India, Malawi, and Nepal in which the effects of women's groups practising participatory learning and action were assessed to identify population-level predictors of effect on maternal mortality, neonatal mortality, and stillbirths. We also reviewed the cost-effectiveness of the women's group intervention and estimated its potential effect at scale in Countdown countries. FINDINGS Seven trials (119,428 births) met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analyses of all trials showed that exposure to women's groups was associated with a 37% reduction in maternal mortality (odds ratio 0.63, 95% CI 0.32-0.94), a 23% reduction in neonatal mortality (0.77, 0.65-0.90), and a 9% non-significant reduction in stillbirths (0.91, 0.79-1.03), with high heterogeneity for maternal (I(2)=58.8%, p=0.024) and neonatal results (I(2)=64.7%, p=0.009). In the meta-regression analyses, the proportion of pregnant women in groups was linearly associated with reduction in both maternal and neonatal mortality (p=0.026 and p=0.011, respectively). A subgroup analysis of the four studies in which at least 30% of pregnant women participated in groups showed a 55% reduction in maternal mortality (0.45, 0.17-0.73) and a 33% reduction in neonatal mortality (0.67, 0.59-0.74). The intervention was cost effective by WHO standards and could save an estimated 283,000 newborn infants and 41,100 mothers per year if implemented in rural areas of 74 Countdown countries. INTERPRETATION With the participation of at least a third of pregnant women and adequate population coverage, women's groups practising participatory learning and action are a cost-effective strategy to improve maternal and neonatal survival in low-resource settings. FUNDING Wellcome Trust, Ammalife, and National Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care for Birmingham and the Black Country programme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Prost
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK.
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Abstract
This is the first study to examine effective doses of controlled-release (CR) melatonin in children with chronic sleep wake cycle disorders. All 42 subjects had severe neurodevelopmental difficulties. Initially, a randomized double-blinded cross-over design was used in 16 children, comparing the effectiveness of fast-release (FR) and CR melatonin. In the remainder of the patients, the CR melatonin was studied on a clinical basis. The effectiveness of treatment was assessed by sleep charts and clinical follow-up. Emphasis was placed on the judgement of the parents, who had guidance from the physicians. The average final CR melatonin dose in the 42 patients was 5.7 mg (2-12 mg). The studies showed that the FR melatonin was most effective when there was only delayed sleep onset, but CR formulations were more useful for sleep maintenance. Children appeared to require higher doses than adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- J E Jan
- Visually Impaired Program, BC's Children's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada.
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